Sewing machine with puller drive



I March 1954 R. H. LUKINS ,670,703

SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE Filed Oct. 24. 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. By RICHARD H. LUKINS A TORNEY.

March 2, 1954 R. H. LUKlNS 2,670,703

SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE Filed Oct. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD H. LUKINS' g a T/ZZI/LW ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1954 LUKINS' SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 24, 1950 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. RICHARD H. LUKINS ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1954 LUKINS 2,670,703

SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE Filed Oct. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1954 LUKlNs 2,670,703

SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE Filed Oct. '24, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 5 B2 Be as PIC-s17 IN VEN TOR.

RICHARD H. LUKINS ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2, 1954 'rN'r oFricE SEWING MACHINE WITH FULLER DRIVE Richard H. Lukins, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 24., 1950, Serial N 0. 191,759

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in puller mechanisms for sewing machines and has particular reference to a puller mechanism that is provided on a frame separate from the regular frame of the sewing machine but is mounted in fixed relation to the latter and is operatively connected with the latter to pull the work at a point beyond the point of stitch formation. This mechanism assists the regular work feeding devices of the sewing machine in advancing heavy work and renders the action of the feeding mechanism more reliable.

An object of the invention has been to provide a puller mechanism of the character indicated which is so combined with a regular fiat bed sewing machine as to enable the latter to be operated at high speed, with uniform results, in the stitching of heavy fabrics.

Another object has been to provide a puller mechanism, having the foregoing capabilities, which may be so coupled with a regular fiat bed sewing machine as to make possible a wide range of accurately controlled stitch lengths.

An important feature of the invention is the coupling of the puller mechanism with the regular sewing machine in such a way that the main driving means for the puller is effectively lubricated from a main lubricant reservoir within an enclosed portion of the sewing machine. For this purpose a special extension is provided from the enclosed lubricant reservoir of the sewing machine for supporting and enclosing an important portion of the operating connections between the sewing machine and puller mechanism. This enables thorough lubrication of such parts and permits constant operation of the puller mechanism at high speed.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from a detailed description of an illustrative form of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of a sewing machine embodied in the illustrative form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine, taken substantially along the work supporting surface thereof, but with the cloth plate of the sewing machine removed to illustrate more clearly the parts beneath it;

Fig. 3 is a view largely in end elevation, as seen from the left in Fig. 2, but partly in'vertical section and with certain cover plates broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of 2 the mechanism, in vertical section along the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of a portion of the mechanism, taken along the line 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similarly enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional view through a portion of the machine, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detail view of a part of the sewing machine mechanism, in vertical section along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine comprises a supporting base plate l0 (Fig. 3) on which is mounted a sewing machine ll, of any suitable construction, and a puller mechanism l2, the latter being positioned in rear of the sewing machine and closely coupled therewith to assist in feeding the work. The illustrative sewing machine, forming part of the combination, comprises a bed 13 carrying at its top a cloth plate [3a providing a work supporting surface for the machine. At one end of the bed there extends upwardly a vertical standard 14 from which projects an overchanging arm [5 extending over the work supporting surface and terminating in a needle head It. The standard l4 may, if desired, be formed integral with the bed of the machine, but for simplicity and convenience in manufacture of the frame, the standard is preferably made separate from the bed and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by bolts or the like. The line of division between the bed and the standard is indicated at Na in Fig. 1. This facilitates the machiningof all of the top fiat surfaces of the bed which are disposed in the same plane. The bedof the sewing machine is secured to the bed plate I0 in any suitable manner as by means of screws or bolts. Similarly, the frame of the puller mechanism 12 is secured to the bed plate 10 so that the sewing machine and puller mechanism are firmly retained in a definite, predetermined relation to each other. As will be explained, the puller mechanism is formed with a work supporting surface which is at the same level as the top of the cloth plate Ba and is arranged to provide a smooth continuous surface in conjunction with the latter for the advancement of the work.

The illustrative sewing machine is of the flat bed type and may suitably be of the character disclosed in the Peterson et a1. application, Serial No. 58,222, filed November 4, 1948, now Patent No. 2,598,426, dated May 27, 1952. It is provided with a main drive shaft I! mounted in bearings in the bed of the machine and arranged longitudinally of the bed. The shaft projects through the right 3 end wall of the bed and carries at its outer end a combined handwheel and pulley 18 through which the sewing machine and also the puller mechanism may be driven.

At a point beneath the vertical standard M, the shaft IT has a crank portion 19 which is connected by a pitman it with a lever 2| extending longitudinally of the overhanging arm and suitably pivoted therein on. an axis 22. At its other end, which extends into the needle head, the lever is connected by a link 23 with a block 24 secured to a needle bar 25. The latter is mounted for vertical reciprocation in suitable bearings at the top and bottom of the needle head and is adapted to carry one or more needles 26 at its lower end. Three such needles are shown. Cooperating with the needles in stitch formation is a cover thread laying member 2'! carried by a collar 28 secured to a sleeve 29. This sleev is adapted to be oscillated within a bearing at the bottom of the needle head by means of a link 38 which is connected at one end to a ball pin extending from the sleeve and at its other end to the arm 31 secured to a rock shaft 32. The latter extends along the rear face of the overhanging arm, outside of the latter, but is enclosed at its two ends by suitable proi ot ns ro the fr me at the needle head and vertical standard, respectively. Adjacent the top of the vertical standard the shaft 32 carries an arm 33 which is preferably slotted to receive, adjustably, a ball pin which is connected by a pitman 3A with an eccentric 35 on the shaft ii. By varying the position of the ball pin in the slot ofthe arm 33 the stroke of the latter, and hence the extent of oscillation of the shaft, may be varied.

Cooperating with the needles, when they are beneath the work support as shown in Fig. 1, is a thread carrying looper 38 adapted to form a double-locked stitch in conjunction with the needle thread or threads. Looper 36 is carried by an arm 31 rockably mounted at 38 on a sleeve 39. The latter is mounted on and secured to a rock shaft 49 for oscillation with the latter. The looper carrier arm 3'? is adapted to be rocked about its pivot 38 to impart loop-seizing and shedding movements .to the looper by means of a link 4! connected at its forward end with a ball pin carried by the arm 3? and at its opposite end with a ball pin carried by an arm 42. This arm is secured to a rock shaft 43 which, as best shown in Fig. '7, extends transversely of the bed of the machine and carries a yoke 44 at an intermediate point within the bed, just beneath the main shaft ii. Yoke 45 carries a ball pin which is connected by a pitman 55 with an eccentric 46 secured to the shaft l'i adjacent a coupling 4'! which serves to connect th shaft H with an extension or further section Ila of the main shaft. Rotation of the shaft will, through the connections described, impart the loop seizing and shedding movements to the looper. Needle avoid movements are imparted to the looper by rocking of the shaft All by means of an eccentric 48 secured to shaft section Ila, this eccentric cooperating with a strap 49 of a pitman 50 which is connected with the lower end of an arm 51 clamped to the shaft w (Figs. 1 and 2) The work feeding devices may include a pair of differentially operated four-motion feed dogs. The main feed dog may be secured to a member 52 and the auxiliary feed dog may be connected with a member 53 (Fig. 2). Member 52 forms part of a feed bar 54 pivotally mounted at the 4 upper end of a feed rocker 55 secured to or rockably mounted on a shaft 58. Feed rocker 55 is operated by a pin 51 projecting from the feed rocker parallel with, but spaced from the shaft 56 and connected by an arm 58 with the lower end of a link 59 (Fig. 3). Link 59 has a strap portion cooperating with an eccentric 60 which is adjustably mounted in a carrier 61 secured to the shaft section Ha to provide variable eccentricity of the eccentric. Rotation of the cocentric 60 will serve to rock the feed roller 55 about the axis of shaft 56 and thus impart feed and return movements to the feed bar 54 and its connected feed dog. The auxiliary feed dog carrier 53 is secured to a rod 32 mounted for reciprocation in suitable bearing lugs on the feed bar 54. A block 63 secured to the rod 62 is connected by a link 64 with a stud 65 (Fig. 3) adjustable to any desired position along an arcuate slot 66 in a member 6? carried by the feed rocker 55. By varying the position of the stud 65 in the slot 88 the rod 62 and hence the auxiliary feed dog may be given variable extents of movement in relation to the main feed dog. Lifting and lowering movements are imparted to both of the feed dogs by a suitable eccentric (not shown) secured to the shaft section Ha beneath the feed bar 55. Cooperating with the feed dogs in advancing the work is a presser foot 68 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted at the lower end of a vertically movable presser bar 68a extending the vertical standard 16.

through the sleeve 29. It will be understood that the presser bar is spring urged downwardly to hold the work against the throat plate and the feed dogs.

stitute but a single storage space for lubricant,

the two being interconnected by one or more passages iii in the wall which separates them. A wick H disposed in a vertical passage within the separating wall just beneath a bearing for the shaft i1 serves to deliver lubricant to the latter. Another wick '12 (Fig. 7) disposed in a vertical passage in a wall adjacent the coupling 41 serves to deliver lubricant to a bearing for the shaft section Ila. Lubricant from the reservoir 59a is delivered to the wick 12 through one or more openings 13. A part of the lubricant delivered through'the opening 13 into the vertical passage in which wick i2 is located is also delivered to a transversely extending passage M for delivery to various points at the rear of the sewing machine frame. As best shown in Fig. 2, the passage M is intersected by a longitudinally extending passage 35 through which lubricant is delivered to transversely extending passages 1B and ii in the base of the sewing machine. From the various passages indicated, lubricant is delivered to the several wear receiving parts of the mechanism through wick-filled tubes Iii. The operating parts in the vertical standard and in the needle head are lubricated by spray created upon the engagement of the crank portion 19 of the shaft H with the lubricant in thereservoirtfi. Some of this spray is carried directly to the bearings requiring lubrication, while some is directed to the desired points by a Wire I9 and a deflector so (Fig. 1

Another part of the lubricant carried vby the spray is delivered along the lever 2| to the needle head for the lubrication of the parts therein. A lubricant mist is also created within the reservoir 69a and this is delivered to all of the bearing surfaces within this part of the enclosed portion of the frame. Turning 'now to the puller mechanism, this," may be a unit generally similar to that disclosed in'the patent to Seymour No. 1,145,619, granted member 83, this throat plate having a central slot or opening through which opposed rollers 84 and 85 of the puller mechanism may'cooperate to grip and pull th work. These puller rollers may be of any suitable construction and may be formed of. any appropriate material. They may, for example, be smooth surfaced rollers provided with arubber covering or rim; or their outer surfaces may be metallic and formed with suitable ribs or corrugations to assist in feeding the work. The frame of the puller mechanism may follow the general contour of the sewing machine frame and include a vertically extending standard 86, in rear of the standard M of the sewing machine, and an overhanging arm which is parallel with the over' hanging arm of the sewing machine and terminates in a head provided with bearing lugs 8'! and 88. A vertically disposed bar 89, mounted for vertical movement in the lugs 81 and 98, carries a yoke 90 at its lowerend which i arranged to straddle the top roller 85 and provide journals for a trunnion 90a projecting from the opposite ends of the roller. A collar 9| secured to the bar 89 is acted upon, in any suitable 3 manner, by a spring (not shown) such as that disclosed in said Seymour patent. This serves to urge the top roller downwardly against the work or the lower roller. Suitablem'eans are provided for lifting the top roller to facilitate introduction and removal of work: this may comprise a lever 92 pivoted on a stud 92a pro-- jecting from the .overhanging arm of the puller mechanism frame. A spring 93 urges the lever into inactive position against a stop 94 on the frame. When it is desired to lift the top roller the lever 92 may be rocked to engage the under face of a stud 95 projecting from the collar 9|. If desired, suitable connections from a knee press or foot treadle may be provided for so lifting the top roller whenever the presser bar of the sewing machine is lifted. An arrangement similiar to that. shown in said Seymour patent may be employed for this purpose. To prevent turning of the bar 89, a forked extenslon 36 of the collar 9| is adapted to straddle and slide along a fixed rod9I carried by the head of the puller mechanism. The top roller 85 is not positively driven, but is rotated through frictional engagement with the work or with the mass sewing machine, are imparted by the mechanism best shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. This includes an eccentric 98 secured to the main shaft I1 within the enclosed lubricant chamber 69a. A strap 99 cooperates with th eccentric and is provided with a rearwardly extending arm I00 which passes through an opening IOI provided in th rear wall of the bed of the sewing machine. At its opposite end the arm or pitman I00 is forked, as indicated at I02, to straddle a downwardly extending arm I03. This arm carries a pin I94 secured in the arm by a screw I05 and arranged for pivotal connection with the forked end I02 of the pitman. Arm I03 is clamped to a rock shaft I06 journaled in bearings I01 and I 08 carried by bossed portions of a housing I09 secured to the rear face of the bed of the sewing machine. Screws I it! are provided to retain the housing and gasket III is provided between the housing and the rear wall of the sewing machine frame to provide an oil-tight seal around the opening through the wall. The housing IE9 is provided with a hollow space aligned with the opening III! in th sewing machine frame to form the indicated extension of the lubricant cham'ber 69a. This permits thorough lubrication of the connections at both ends of the pitman I99 and, at th same time, guards against the escape of lubricant from the chamber 99a. The bearings I01 and I08 may be made suiiiciently tight to prevent the escape of any appreciable amount of lubricant along the rockshaft I06. Moreover, any special means desired may be provided to prevent the escape of lubricant at the outer ends of these bearings.

A removable screw plug I 01a (Fig. 5) may, for.

example, serve to seal the outer end of bearing 50'! and, at the same time, provide access to the parts and a means of assembling and disassembling them.

Shaft IGE extends outwardly through one'wall of the housing I99 and has secured to its outer,

end, adjacent the outer end of bearing I98, an arm H2. in any suitable way, as by copper welding. Screw threaded openings H3 are provided at different radial distances from the axis of shaft I96 along the arm H2. A screw threaded shank H4 of a ball pin H5 is adapted to be threaded into any one of the openings I I3 depending upon the stitch length desired. Ball pin I I5 is received by a strap H6 of a link H], which has a strap H8 at its opposite end surrounding a ball pin H9. The latter is arranged to be secured in any desiredposition along an elongated slot I29 provided in an arm I2! which is clamped or otherwise se-' cured to a rock shaft I22. By varying the position of the ball pin I I 9 along the slot I20 further variation may be provided in the extent of movement of the feed or puller rollers on each cycle of operation of the machine, to conform with any selected stitch length. It will be apparent that the combined adjustments at the two ends of the link H'I provide for a wide variation institch length. Thus, when the pin H5 is mounted in the top hole I I3 of arm I I2, the feed action of the rollers may be varied between 10 and 24 stitches per inch by appropriate adjustment of the pin H9 along the slot I20. When pin H5 is in the bottom hole H3 the stitch length may be varied between 3 and 7 stitches per inch in the illustrated machine.

' Rock shaft I22 is journaled in a bearing sleeve -I 23 mounted in the base of the puller mechanism frame and it extends at its opposite end into a The latter may be secured to the shaft acvopoa one-way clutch unit 124. The latter may suitably be' 'of-a construction similar to that disclosedfin the patent to Seymour No. 1,292 ,099, granted J anuary 21,1919. As will be understood, the arrangement is such that turning of the arm-I2i and shaft 122 in one direction-i. e., anti-clockwisey Fig. 4, will be idle. Rotation of the driven shaftl22-in such anti-clockwise direction is prevented" by the construction of-the one-way clutch which includes a fixed sleeve I26 held against rotationf by clamping means I27. The driven shaft-I" of the clutch unit is journaled in a bearing 128* and carries the roller 84 at its outer end.

To close the top of the lubricant chamber 69a there is secured to the top of the bed ofthe sewing-machine, over this chamber, a cover plate I29 (Figs. 4 and 6). This is secured by suitable screws such as indicated at I30 in Fig. 6. gasket l3| (Fig. 4) is preferably provided between the cover plate and the top of the bed to eifect'a good seal. Cover plate I29 extends over the extension of the reservoir provided by the casing I09 as well as over the main part of the reservoir 1 in the bed. It is disposed below the work support" Bo and is spaced slightly from the latter, as shown in Fig. 6. To permit rocking of the arm I03 without interference, a slight spherical bulge I32 is provided in the cover plate over the clamp in screw for the arm I03.

The operation of the machine is believed to be clear from the foregoing detailed description; Upon each revolution of the main shaft I! of the sewing machine the various stitch-forming devices will be operated to form a stitch and the feed dogs will be operated to advance the work. 'Simultaneously, the lower puller roller will be rotated through an increment depending upon the stitch length desired and in coaction with the anfec'centric: onsaid rotary shaft, a rock shaft 1 extending-froma point within said chamber to a. pointoutwardly thereof, and a 'pitman wholly withinsaid' chamber for connecting said eccen-" -15 upper puller roller 85 will serve to pull the work so as to insure the proper action of the regular .40

been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that various modifications may' be made in the construction and arrangement o'f the to several parts without departing from the principles and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A sewing machine havin a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices, walls forming an enclosed 111-- bricant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extending through at least one wall of said cham ber,-a-puller mechanism exterior ofsaid chamber comprising a driven roller for pulling the work at a point beyond the point of stitch formation;

and connections from said rotary shaft for driving-said driven roller, said connections including an eccentric on said rotary shaft and a pitman' driven by said eccentric and a portion of said connections extending through a wall of said chamber in oil tight relation thereto, said pitman being fully enclosed within said chamber.

2. A sewing machine having a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and" a puller "mechanism exterior of said chamber comprising "a *driven" roller for pullin the work atapbiht beyondthe point of stitch formation;

and connections from said rotary'shaft for "driv mg} said'd'riven roller, said connections including trio with said rock shaft for rocking the latter. 3.]A sewing machine having a "frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard andian overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices, 'walls'forming anenclosed lubri-.

cant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extendingthrough at least one wall of said chamher; a puller mechanismiexterior of said chamber comprising a driven roller for'pulling the work at a point beyond the point of stitch formation, and connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections including aneccentricon said rotary shaft, a rock shaft extending from a point within said chamber to. a point outwardly thereof, a pitman wholly With-1 said chamber, an arm connected with said second rock shaft, and a link connecting said arms on said rock shafts, said lin'k being variably connected with each of said arms for varying the effective lengths thereof 4. A sewing machine having a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a' rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices,- walls forming an enclosed lubricant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extending'through'at least one wall of said chamher, a puller mechanism having a separate frame connected in iixed r elation to said first mentioned frame and-comprising a driven roller for pulling I the work at apoint beyond'thepoint of stitch formation and connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections-comprising-a rock shaft in each of said frames, means wholly enclosed in said chamber and arranged to-receive lubricant therefrom for rocking the rock shaft in the first mentioned frame upon rotation ofsaid rotary shaft, said rock shaft in the first mentioned frame extending through a wall of said chamber, and means exrock terior of said frame for interconnecting said shafts for operation in unison.

5. A sewing machine having a frame with a Work supporting bed portion, a verticals'tandard and -an overhanging arm; stitch forming and" work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said had for driv ing said devices; walls'forming an enclosed lubripulling the work stitch formation, and connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections comprising a rock shaft in each of said frames, means wholly enclosed in said chamber and arranged to receive lubricant therefrom for rocking the rock shaft in the first mentioned frame upon rotation of said rotary shaft, said rock shaft in the first mentioned frame extending through a wall of said chamber, and means exterior of said frame for interconnecting said rock shafts for operation in unison, said interconnecting means comprising an arm secured to each of said rock shafts and a connection between said arms adapted for variable attachment to each arm to vary the effective length thereof.

6. A sewing machine having a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices, walls forming an enclosed lubricant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extending through at least one wall of said chamber, means within said enclosed chamber for dispersing a lubricant mist throughout the same upon rotation of said shaft, a puller mechanism exterior of said chamber comprising a driven roller for pulling the work at a point beyond the point of stitch formation, and connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections including an eccentric on said rotary shaft and a pitman driven by said eccentric, said pitman being fully enclosed within said chamber, said connections also including a part extending through a wall of said chamber in oil tight relation thereto.

'7. A sewing machine having a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices, walls forming an enclosed lubricant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extending through at least one wall of said chamber, a puller mechanism exterior of said chamber comprising a driven roller for pulling the work at a point beyond the point of stitch formation, connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections including an eccentric on said rotary shaft and a pitman driven by said eccentric, said pitman being fully enclosed within said chamber, said connections also including a part extending through a wall of said chamber in oil tight relation thereto, and means for distributing lubricant from the supply in said chamber to driven parts inside and out side of said chamber.

8. A sewing machine having a frame with a work supporting bed portion, a vertical standard and an overhanging arm, stitch forming and work feeding devices carried by said frame, means comprising a rotary shaft in said bed for driving said devices, walls forming an enclosed lubricant retaining chamber in said bed, said shaft extending through at least one wall of said chamber, an auxiliary feed mechanism exterior of said chamber comprising a driven roller for advancing thework from the point of stitch formation, and connections from said rotary shaft for driving said driven roller, said connections including a rock shaft partially within said chamber and which extends through a wall of said chamber in oil tight relation thereto, means within said chamber inter-connecting said rotary shaft with said rock shaft for driving the latter, and means exterior of said chamber and connecting said rock shaft with said driven roller.

RICHARD H. LUKINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,929,299 Zeier Oct. 3, 1933 1,973,608 Christensen et a1. Sept. 11, 1934 2,325,643 Weis Aug. 3, 1943 2,367,145 Sheldon Jan. 9, 1945 

